Picture: Space-saving plate rack by Country Kitchens of Devon www.countrykitchensofdevon.com
WHEN I was looking through magazines earlier this year, searching for ideas for my small kitchen, I became totally depressed.
Every beautiful layout, every kitchen coming anywhere near my ideal of a real "country kitchen" was huge. My little kitchen would have fitted into the space left for the breakfast bar!
But I very badly needed a new kitchen (scuffed cream laminate doors and stained carpet tiles on the floor weren't really my thing) and had to do something.
I was lucky because in the village where I live there is a firm which makes kitchens. I feared they would far too expensive for me and I thought they wouldn't bother with a small space like mine. Undaunted, I took advantage of their free planning offer and got them round. Chris turned up with his clipboard and measuring tape (I hadn't told him a ruler would probably be long enough!) and didn't skip a beat when I led him into my kitchen.
He was brilliant and explained that with a small kitchen it is vital to make every square inch work for you, and work hard. Décor and lighting are two ways to give the illusion of space. And you must choose the right appliances.
He said small kitchens may seem to be a very difficult design challenge, but they can also be functional, beautiful and efficient.
Here is his advice: To create a more spacious look for your small kitchen design you need creative storage solutions, mixing natural and ambient lighting, taking advantage of more space saving appliances, and adding personalised touches.
Some ideas to try include:
1. Putting an island in the centre of the kitchen that can provide freestanding storage that is also convenient from any spot in the kitchen.
2. Using a galley kitchen design in which the cabinets and appliances line up on either side of a corridor can work out very well for a small kitchen space.
3. Today’s appliance manufacturers have come up with more compact space-saving appliances make small kitchen design easier, such as refrigerators that are 24 inches deep instead of 30 inches deep, as well as appliances that can be hung underneath cabinets like microwaves.
4. Other small kitchen design tricks to create an eating area in the kitchen include using a drop table or a small sized round table with two small chairs that can be tucked into a corner. Or a built-in counter along the wall with chairs to provide an eating nook.
5. Another interesting challenge in small kitchen design is creating an illusion of space with under cabinet lighting or under the counter. With the proper type of lighting the kitchen can be made to appear larger and more pleasing.
6. The use of light coloured cabinets with glass doors.
7. Installing deeper counters that can accommodate more appliances and increase work space.
8. Flooring tiles can be placed on a diagonal, and in galley-style kitchen hardwood flooring can be run the length of the kitchen.
9. For storage you can hang up pots and pans. This is a perfect way to free up cabinet space, and they add a certain charm and character to your small kitchen design. The insides of cabinet doors can be used to hang up everything from utensils, oven mitts, and other miscellaneous items. Pantry storage with units that go all the way to the ceiling with the upper cabinets to provide more space for seldom used items while making the lower cabinets more accessible with rollout shelves, lazy susans, and tilt-out bins.
10. Install a large kitchen sink, since larger sinks are considered to be more practical than small sinks when it comes to cleaning pots and pans.
Remember most kitchens are small. When you look in kitchen design magazines you naturally notice that the kitchens featured are large and so you might think your small kitchen in inadequate. But good small kitchen design means being able to create space and incorporating ample storage facilities and being able to fit in all the necessary appliances.
Now I am the proud owner of a light oak kitchen with plenty of storage space, a slim granite worktop and light tiles on the floor. Thank you, Chris!
I suppose I'd better give the firm a plug now! Email them at info@countrykitchensofdevon.com They fit kitchens all over the UK.
Every beautiful layout, every kitchen coming anywhere near my ideal of a real "country kitchen" was huge. My little kitchen would have fitted into the space left for the breakfast bar!
But I very badly needed a new kitchen (scuffed cream laminate doors and stained carpet tiles on the floor weren't really my thing) and had to do something.
I was lucky because in the village where I live there is a firm which makes kitchens. I feared they would far too expensive for me and I thought they wouldn't bother with a small space like mine. Undaunted, I took advantage of their free planning offer and got them round. Chris turned up with his clipboard and measuring tape (I hadn't told him a ruler would probably be long enough!) and didn't skip a beat when I led him into my kitchen.
He was brilliant and explained that with a small kitchen it is vital to make every square inch work for you, and work hard. Décor and lighting are two ways to give the illusion of space. And you must choose the right appliances.
He said small kitchens may seem to be a very difficult design challenge, but they can also be functional, beautiful and efficient.
Here is his advice: To create a more spacious look for your small kitchen design you need creative storage solutions, mixing natural and ambient lighting, taking advantage of more space saving appliances, and adding personalised touches.
Some ideas to try include:
1. Putting an island in the centre of the kitchen that can provide freestanding storage that is also convenient from any spot in the kitchen.
2. Using a galley kitchen design in which the cabinets and appliances line up on either side of a corridor can work out very well for a small kitchen space.
3. Today’s appliance manufacturers have come up with more compact space-saving appliances make small kitchen design easier, such as refrigerators that are 24 inches deep instead of 30 inches deep, as well as appliances that can be hung underneath cabinets like microwaves.
4. Other small kitchen design tricks to create an eating area in the kitchen include using a drop table or a small sized round table with two small chairs that can be tucked into a corner. Or a built-in counter along the wall with chairs to provide an eating nook.
5. Another interesting challenge in small kitchen design is creating an illusion of space with under cabinet lighting or under the counter. With the proper type of lighting the kitchen can be made to appear larger and more pleasing.
6. The use of light coloured cabinets with glass doors.
7. Installing deeper counters that can accommodate more appliances and increase work space.
8. Flooring tiles can be placed on a diagonal, and in galley-style kitchen hardwood flooring can be run the length of the kitchen.
9. For storage you can hang up pots and pans. This is a perfect way to free up cabinet space, and they add a certain charm and character to your small kitchen design. The insides of cabinet doors can be used to hang up everything from utensils, oven mitts, and other miscellaneous items. Pantry storage with units that go all the way to the ceiling with the upper cabinets to provide more space for seldom used items while making the lower cabinets more accessible with rollout shelves, lazy susans, and tilt-out bins.
10. Install a large kitchen sink, since larger sinks are considered to be more practical than small sinks when it comes to cleaning pots and pans.
Remember most kitchens are small. When you look in kitchen design magazines you naturally notice that the kitchens featured are large and so you might think your small kitchen in inadequate. But good small kitchen design means being able to create space and incorporating ample storage facilities and being able to fit in all the necessary appliances.
Now I am the proud owner of a light oak kitchen with plenty of storage space, a slim granite worktop and light tiles on the floor. Thank you, Chris!
I suppose I'd better give the firm a plug now! Email them at info@countrykitchensofdevon.com They fit kitchens all over the UK.
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